Chrisz24

I was watching this really cool show on American Muscle car on speed about SLP and they highlighted the 4th gen's and how SLP turns Z28's into SS and Trans am's into Firehawks which I know. But never in the show do they mention Trans Am to WS6!

Did Pontiac add the WS6 Hood, wheels, suspention & exhaust from the factory or did SLP?

I Always hear about the SS and Firehawks being numbered, but I dont think I've ever heard of WS6's owners claming build numbers? am I right?

I'm pretty up on my F bod knowledge, but always looking for some more info from the experts

~Chris

Cmr0z28

AFAIK they were sent to SLP as Trans Ams, and then the WS6 package was added, just like the Z28 --> SS deal.

Gun5

then where the **** did the firehawk come from i figured the Z28 > SS - Trans Am > WS6 thing

6SpdLT1Z

I believe LS1 WS6's were from Pontiac and LT1 WS6s were from SLP.

Dave89IROC

bingo

Dave89IROC

Firehawks were Firebird Formulas done up by SLP

Camarocracy

The Firehawk was the first car done by SLP on a Firebird Formula back in 1991. They produce 25 in total over the 91-92 production years. Back then, the Firehawk was a serious racecar for the street. I'm not saying the LT1 or LS1 Firehawk's aren't fast cars, but they weren't created in the same way the first Firehawk's where. Back in 91-92, SLP put some series modifications into the Firehawk.

Standard options for hte 91-92 Firehawk was a specially designed intake manifold, ZF 6-speed transmission, Dana 44 rear, aluminum hood, 17x9.5" wheels with 275/40/17 tires, and a beefed up suspension comparable to the 1LE package.

You could also order the "Competition Package" which added a roll-bar, Recaro seats, a 366ci aluminum block pushing 375hp/400tq, relocated battery, Brembo F40 disc brakes, and a Level III suspension.

Pontiac then produced more Firehawk's from 93-97. The Firehawk could be ordered with an SLP exhaust pushing the rated horsepower to 315. They consisted of the 1LE/WS6 suspension package, and had the 6-speed tranny. Rarely will you find an auto LT1/LT4 Hawk. In 1997, a Firehawk could be ordered with the handbuilt LT4 motor. It was blueprinted and balanced, producing 330hp. Only 27 LT4 Firehawk's where produced. Also, the LT1 Firehawk now had a Firehawk only ramair hood. It was slightly different from the WS6 hood the 96-97 WS6's had. Firehawk's started to appear with t-tops more, unlike the two 92 Firehawk's with t-tops.

Until 1998, Firehawk's where only available on the Formula. For the new LS1 models, they started producing the Firehawk's on the Trans Am. The LS1 Firehawk's where usually fully loaded models, with a Firehawk specific hood. They had the same motors as the regular LS1's, but where rated at 345hp. You also could order the SLP optional Bilstein suspension package that had SLP specific valved Bilstein shocks and SLP specific Eibach springs. In 2001, you could get an optional spoiler which is nick-named "lumpy" because of the way it looks. In 2002, SLP released a 10th Anniversary Firehawk that had gold stripes, decals, and wheels. It could also come with an optional IROC spoiler designed after the spoiler used in the IROC Trans Am's.

Each Firehawk had Firehawk specific wheels that weren't available on the regular Firebird/Formula/Trans Am. Although, all the wheels can be purchased in the aftermarket.

Put in perspective, if SLP produced LS1 type Firehawk's like they did with the thirdgen Firehawk's, they would have probably came with 450hp, if not more.

Gun5

good job Camarocracy

Dave '97 Z28 M6

I think some of the confusion out there is caused by the fact that the early (LT1) SS's and WS6's were built as standard Z28's/Formulas/T.A.'s at the factory and then shipped (literally) down the road to SLP. At SLP, they removed the stock hoods, spoilers, shocks, wheels, tires, air intake, exhaust, etc., and installed the SLP parts. This was obviously not a very efficient way of doing things, so in later (LS1) years, SLP "set up shop" in the F-body factory, and took care of the SS and WS6 modifications "in house".

Moshbmx1

Alrite question...so say i buy a 98-00 Ws6...do they all have SLP performance options and not just appearance?

Dave '97 Z28 M6

All WS6 coupes have a host of performance upgrades from SLP, including shocks, springs, wheels, tires, exhaust, ram air intake, etc., along with appearance items.

Convertables are a bit more complicated. The LT1 WS6 'verts did not receive much more than the ram air hood, and missed out on a lot of the performance goodies. The LS1 WS6 'verts got more (or maybe all) of the performance upgrades that the coupe got.

94arcticwhiteM6

weren't the 98+ WS6's assembled by a company called ASC? i did some research a while back 'cause i was looking at an 02 WS6 and there was a way to send in the VIN to ASC to get the build number. also in order to get the firehawk hood for a 98+ you have to have a vin and contact SLP, but you can get a WS6 hood from GM.

GREAT_WHITE

3rd Gen Firewahks Are Awesome In My Opinion

Chrisz24

Thats what I think.

Although the WS6 and SS package cost about the same even though one was assembeled by pontiac and one by Chevy->SLP

94arcticwhiteM6

98+ WS6's were built by ASC. SLP had nothing to do with them. SLP built the hawks.